Behind Better Health: Hikma's People
A new episode of Hikma's “Behind Better Health” podcast explores why employees join the global pharmaceutical company — and why they stay
London, 22 June 2026 — In the latest episode of its “Behind Better Health” podcast, the company’s People Function Leaders say its real edge is its people first culture, not scale.
Chief People Officer Hussein Arkhagha, a 25-year veteran, pointed to growth opportunities and the legacy of founder Samih Darwazah, whose values of “loyalty, trust, respect, empathy, integrity, and long-term thinking” still anchor a shared purpose: “putting better health within reach every day.” VP of Total Rewards Claire Whieldon, who joined two years ago, praised a rare blend of scale and intimacy at the “$ 3b+” business: “You’re not anonymous, so your contribution gets noticed.”
That care extends beyond work — through disability support for employees’ families, education support, and a revamped grading system that lifted promotions.
Asked to sum up the company in a word, Whieldon chose “warmth”: “When you join Hikma, you don’t just join a company … you join a family.”
Walid Khalifeh, who himself moved from Hikma’s legal team into the role of Head of the US People function, said the welcome runs throughout: “From the entry level to leadership roles, you’re always welcomed, and you’re always invited to be part of the team.”